AI media models
over time.
Pick any date in arena history to see how the leaderboard stood and what was winning. Further down, watch the #1 model in each mode change hands as new releases ship.
The models on any date
Drag the timeline to any model release date. You get the leaderboard as of that day, up to six winner vs last comparisons among the models out by then, and a note or two on what was notable at the time. The rest of the page stays put.
Leaderboard
Apr 21, 2026 · Text-to-Image| # | Model | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gemini 3.1 Flash Image Preview | 29.0 |
| 2 | Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview | 28.2 |
| 3 | GPT Image 2 | 28.2 |
| 4 | FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo | 27.4 |
| 5 | FLUX.2 [dev] Flash | 26.8 |
| 6 | ImagineArt 1.5 (Preview) | 26.8 |
| 7 | GPT Image 1.5 | 26.5 |
| 8 | Recraft V4 | 26.4 |
| 9 | FLUX.2 [pro] | 26.3 |
| 10 | Seedream 4.5 | 26.1 |
| 11 | FLUX.2 [max] | 25.9 |
| 12 | GPT Image 1 Mini | 25.3 |
| 13 | FLUX.2 [flex] | 25.2 |
| 14 | Grok Imagine Image Pro | 24.9 |
| 15 | Z-Image Turbo | 24.7 |
Winner vs last
Apr 21, 2026 6On this date
Apr 21, 2026 1
Every model to hold #1
in each mode.
One row per mode. Each row lists, oldest to newest, the models that have held the overall top spot in that mode, shown with the image that won it. The current leader is marked Now.
- Crown changes
- 17
- Since
- 2022
- Apr 2022
Intelligence over time
How AI image models have grown more capable over time, grouped by their creator. Each point is a model at its release date and arena Elo, and each line follows one lab's releases.
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Alibaba 8
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Black Forest Labs 9
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ByteDance 3
- fal 2
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Google 6
- HiDream AI 1
- Leonardo AI 1
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OpenAI 5
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Recraft AI 2
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Reve AI 1
- Stability AI 3
- Vyro AI 1
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xAI 2
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- fal 1
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Who led each challenge over time
One row per challenge prompt. Each row shows the models that held #1 on that prompt, oldest on the left, current leader on the right, with the winning image at each handoff. Click any frame to view it full size.
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Text-to-Image 7 reigns · 81 snapshotsGeometric Composition
DALL-E 2 took the crown in Apr 2022, then passed it through 5 more champions. ImagineArt 1.5 (Preview) holds it now.
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Text-to-Image 7 reigns · 75 snapshotsModern Clean Menu
DALL-E 2 took the crown in Apr 2022, then passed it through 5 more champions. Grok Imagine Image holds it now.
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Image Editing 6 reigns · 42 snapshotsStudio Ghibli Anime Style
Reve Image 1.0 took the crown in Mar 2025, then passed it through 4 more champions. Gemini 3.1 Flash Image Preview holds it now.
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Image Editing 4 reigns · 39 snapshotsOver-the-top cartoon caricature
Reve Image 1.0 took the crown in Mar 2025, then passed it through 2 more champions. Gemini 3.1 Flash Image Preview holds it now.
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Image Upscaling 3 reigns · 8 snapshotsWeave Warfare
Google Upscaler took the crown in Dec 2023, then passed it through 1 more champion. Crystal Upscaler holds it now.
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Text-to-Video 3 reigns · 6 snapshotsNeon Rain Reverie
Sora 2 Pro took the crown in Sep 2025, then passed it through 1 more champion. Seedance 2.0 holds it now.
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Text-to-Video 3 reigns · 6 snapshotsThe Soul Gauntlet
Sora 2 Pro took the crown in Sep 2025, then passed it through 1 more champion. Kling V3 Omni Pro holds it now.
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Image-to-Video 2 reigns · 5 snapshotsCelebrity Arrival
Kling V3 Omni Pro took the crown in Dec 2025. Seedance 2.0 holds it now.
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Image Upscaling 2 reigns · 4 snapshotsFreckle Fortress Challenge
Recraft Crisp Upscale took the crown in Oct 2024. Crystal Upscaler holds it now.
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Text-to-Image 6 reigns · 72 snapshotsThe Capybara Taxi Driver
DALL-E 2 took the crown in Apr 2022, then passed it through 4 more champions. Seedream 5.0 Lite holds it now.
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Text-to-Image 6 reigns · 45 snapshotsThe Reversed Rodeo
DALL-E 2 took the crown in Apr 2022, then passed it through 4 more champions. GPT Image 2 holds it now.
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Text-to-Image 5 reigns · 81 snapshotsAdorable Baby Animals in Sunny Meadow
DALL-E 2 took the crown in Apr 2022, then passed it through 3 more champions. Recraft V4 Pro holds it now.
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Text-to-Image 5 reigns · 72 snapshotsVintage Cafe Logo
DALL-E 2 took the crown in Apr 2022, then passed it through 3 more champions. GPT Image 1.5 holds it now.
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Text-to-Image 5 reigns · 69 snapshotsIsometric Miniature Diorama Scenes
DALL-E 2 took the crown in Apr 2022, then passed it through 3 more champions. Seedream 4.5 holds it now.
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Text-to-Image 5 reigns · 57 snapshotsMagic Burger Explosion: Fiery Photorealism Challenge
DALL-E 2 took the crown in Apr 2022, then passed it through 3 more champions. GPT Image 2 holds it now.
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Text-to-Image 4 reigns · 81 snapshotsCandid Street Photography
DALL-E 2 took the crown in Apr 2022, then passed it through 2 more champions. GPT Image 1 Mini holds it now.
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Text-to-Image 4 reigns · 74 snapshotsChalkboard Menu
DALL-E 2 took the crown in Apr 2022, then passed it through 2 more champions. Grok Imagine Image holds it now.